bubbles under a purple algea help please

kalyman13 · 02/09/2010, 09:14 AM

I have a 120 gallon is a 4 mounths old but now I'm getting a purple algea I was hoping was a coralina but is growing like carpet and under it it has bubbles alot of them , how a can fix this ?

Chris27 · 02/09/2010, 09:22 AM

The first step should be to evaluate your system in the way of nutrients. It sounds like you have Cyanobacteria, Red Slime or Blue Green algae, it grows as a result of phosphate and nitrate (nutrients) in your system. Get a good idea of your current nitrate and phosphate levels, and take the proper steps to eliminate them. Tap water, food, and fish waste are the usual suspects, using RO/DI water, straining food, protein skimmers, GFO and water changes are all ways to help keep nutrients down.

While performing a water change siphon off the Cyano, after that try to keep the nutrients down and you may solve your problem. If it seems that your stuff just grows back after a day or two, a treatment of Red Slime remover may be in order.

Do a couple of searches here and you'll find an abundance of info on it, how to get rid of it, and what to do to ensure that it doesn't come back.

Michael · 02/09/2010, 09:23 AM

sounds like cyano bacteria, you need to ensure the water added to the tank is totally pure and nutrient free, a ro-di is best for that, also dont overfeed your fish, keep the water moving about by powerheads and also suck as much of the stuff out as possible when you water change next, this is a start, then keep at it.

Michael · 02/09/2010, 09:23 AM

beat me too it chris haha

kalyman13 · 02/09/2010, 09:35 AM

chris27 //// michael hey tank you for the info, It came on time. I was about to do my water change now and I will post later my info in the system I have I did found yerterday that skimmer wasn't working.
well let me get this done now later and have a good day now

mouse51180 · 02/09/2010, 09:42 AM

There is a product called Chemi-Clean by Boyd Industries that works great on getting rid of that stuff. You can find it at most aquarium stores.

Sk8r · 02/09/2010, 11:13 AM

Advise against Chemiclean, but DO hope you have a potent skimmer. To kill this stuff, turn out your lights for 3 days once a month, and keep that skimmer working. It's no worse than what happens in the ocean on a cloudy day. Chemiclean will take it out too fast, plus kibosh some of your bacteria, and it's real rough on a tank. The lights-out method works more slowly and a decent skimmer can keep up with it.

Chris27 · 02/09/2010, 11:19 AM

I've been battling the stuff in my newest tank for the last few months so I feel your pain. I've got the nutrients down very low, use carbon, GFO and DI, skim like hell and have a RDSB Fuge with a good deal of Macro - it's still there so I just hit it with Chemiclean last night, we'll see how it works. I've only used the red slime removers in the past as a last resort, as you have to turn off the protein skimmer and stop running carbon, so bringing the water quality back up after a few days of treatment is a royal pita.

Good Luck though - hopefully the natural remedies will work for you, seems like I got stuck with a super strand that hangs on for dear life.

bertoni · 02/09/2010, 06:17 PM

Chemi-Clean has been known to nuke tanks, and it's usually a temporary bandage at best. There's likely an underlying nutrient problem and no chemical will solve that.

02/09/2010, 09:14 AM	#1
kalyman13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Palm Springs, CA Posts: 15	bubbles under a purple algea help please I have a 120 gallon is a 4 mounths old but now I'm getting a purple algea I was hoping was a coralina but is growing like carpet and under it it has bubbles alot of them , how a can fix this ?

02/09/2010, 09:23 AM	#3
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	sounds like cyano bacteria, you need to ensure the water added to the tank is totally pure and nutrient free, a ro-di is best for that, also dont overfeed your fish, keep the water moving about by powerheads and also suck as much of the stuff out as possible when you water change next, this is a start, then keep at it. __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

02/09/2010, 09:23 AM	#4
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	beat me too it chris haha __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)

02/09/2010, 11:13 AM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Advise against Chemiclean, but DO hope you have a potent skimmer. To kill this stuff, turn out your lights for 3 days once a month, and keep that skimmer working. It's no worse than what happens in the ocean on a cloudy day. Chemiclean will take it out too fast, plus kibosh some of your bacteria, and it's real rough on a tank. The lights-out method works more slowly and a decent skimmer can keep up with it. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/09/2010, 06:17 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Chemi-Clean has been known to nuke tanks, and it's usually a temporary bandage at best. There's likely an underlying nutrient problem and no chemical will solve that. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/09/2010, 09:22 AM	#2
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	The first step should be to evaluate your system in the way of nutrients. It sounds like you have Cyanobacteria, Red Slime or Blue Green algae, it grows as a result of phosphate and nitrate (nutrients) in your system. Get a good idea of your current nitrate and phosphate levels, and take the proper steps to eliminate them. Tap water, food, and fish waste are the usual suspects, using RO/DI water, straining food, protein skimmers, GFO and water changes are all ways to help keep nutrients down. While performing a water change siphon off the Cyano, after that try to keep the nutrients down and you may solve your problem. If it seems that your stuff just grows back after a day or two, a treatment of Red Slime remover may be in order. Do a couple of searches here and you'll find an abundance of info on it, how to get rid of it, and what to do to ensure that it doesn't come back.

02/09/2010, 09:35 AM	#5
kalyman13 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Palm Springs, CA Posts: 15	chris27 //// michael hey tank you for the info, It came on time. I was about to do my water change now and I will post later my info in the system I have I did found yerterday that skimmer wasn't working. well let me get this done now later and have a good day now

02/09/2010, 09:42 AM	#6
mouse51180 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Charlotte - NC Posts: 79	There is a product called Chemi-Clean by Boyd Industries that works great on getting rid of that stuff. You can find it at most aquarium stores.

02/09/2010, 11:19 AM	#8
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	I've been battling the stuff in my newest tank for the last few months so I feel your pain. I've got the nutrients down very low, use carbon, GFO and DI, skim like hell and have a RDSB Fuge with a good deal of Macro - it's still there so I just hit it with Chemiclean last night, we'll see how it works. I've only used the red slime removers in the past as a last resort, as you have to turn off the protein skimmer and stop running carbon, so bringing the water quality back up after a few days of treatment is a royal pita. Good Luck though - hopefully the natural remedies will work for you, seems like I got stuck with a super strand that hangs on for dear life.